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Wind
Advisor

Multi-fuel outdoor furnace

I know many here have outdoor wood stoves and was wondering if anyone has a multi-fuel stove.

With the price of different fuels bouncing around this year I would like a choice of fuels to burn. 

I would like to purchase a multi-fuel outdoor water furnace for the next heating season.  Here is my choice of fuels, wood, shelled corn and LP.  Any out there?  

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6 Replies
Longcreekfarms
Senior Contributor

Re: Multi-fuel outdoor furnace

On my hardy, you just put finer grates in the bottom if you want to shovel coal instead of cutting wood. No experience with anything else except junk mail and inner tubes! 🙂
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Shaggy98
Senior Advisor

Re: Multi-fuel outdoor furnace

Another question on this topic, has anyone used anything other than a gas fired boiler to heat a concrete shop floor? I was considering geothermal, but after just a little thought, I don't think I'll have the space available to bury it without placing the shop itself on the ground directly above it. I can see big problems down the road if I decide to do that. I do have natural gas available, and I'm thinking that would be the most economical, any thoughts?
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Wind
Advisor

Re: Multi-fuel outdoor furnace

How about chucked-up old tires?  I know a farmer who burns his dead chickens in an out-door wood stove.  Seriously, I have seen a LP and wood boiler and have heard there was a wood and corn out- door boiler, but not yet all three.  Maybe I'm asking too much?  I'm where Sag is, looking to build a shop with floor heat.  Longcreek,  any pros or cons?

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Longcreekfarms
Senior Contributor

Re: Multi-fuel outdoor furnace

I've had the same thought as Shaggy but with the cheap, redneck version! I'd like to start fresh and build a new shop next to my house.
My idea is to bore a hole in each corner just as deep as i can drill it with a 3ft auger and extension i have for a post hole digger on skid steer. Shoot some shock-crete or line the holes with steel drums to keep them from caving in. Lay expanded metal over the holes and use as much of the earths heat as i can. But also, Can share the woodstove with the house and just run another pair of lines and pump to the exchanger of the shop. It would kind of be the backup system for the super cold days when you can't even hold a wrench with your numb fingers.
As an added bonus, the holes would be a great place to unload a Budweiser 😉
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buckfarmer
Senior Contributor

Re: Multi-fuel outdoor furnace

You know wind, if you have the time you could build your own. Design it however you need, to burn whatever you want. I wanted to build one. Don't have the free time nowadays. Just spent the money and bought one ready to use.
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Wind
Advisor

Re: Multi-fuel outdoor furnace

Buck, I've done at lot off welding in my life but I lack the "know how" to build a out-door stove.  Lack of a heated shop to work in too.  I did talk to a corn stove dealer last evening and he is really busy.

Heating houses, shops, schools, confinement barns, and just any building in the Winter, will become more expensive in the coming years.  Cheap LP and NG days are over for awhile.  Why not coal?

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